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DIVINE PROTECTION 



THROUGH 



EXTRAORDINARY DANGERS, 



DURING THE 



IRISH REBELLIOJi IN 1798. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED BY THE TRACT ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS, 

AND TO BE HAD AT THEIR DEPOSITORY, 

NO. 304 ARCH STREET. 



s^' 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 



The Saviour of men frequently inculcated on 
his followers the duty of avoiding an over-anxious 
and distrustful disposition, and of confiding in the 
protecting and preserving care of our Heavenly 
Father. "Are not five sparrows sold for two 
farthings," said he, "and not one of them is for- 
gotten before God," — " one of them shall not fall 
on the ground without your Father. But the very 
hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye 
not, therefore, ye are of more value than many 
sparrows." 

It would be difficult to find language to convey 
in a more touching or striking manner the minute- 
ness of that watchful care which a beneficient Pro- 
vidence is continually exercising over his children 
even in their temporal affairs ; and we believe that 
a firm belief in the doctrine, and a humble and 
yeverent sense of its importance duly impressed on 

(3) 



4 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

the mind, would not only act as an incitement to 
watchfulness unto prayer, but greatly mitigate the 
sorrows and trials of life. Those who cordially 
embrace the belief and daily live in it, will be led 
to renounce a dependence on their own skill and 
wisdom for the direction of their steps through life, 
and earnestly to seek and wait for the guidance of 
the Holy Spirit, which leadeth into all truth and 
out of every evil way. 

Many are the instances in which those thus en- 
gaged have experienced the happy effects of fol- 
lowing the unfoldings of the Divine Light even in 
very small things; when, if they had pursued the 
course which worldly wisdom had dictated, the 
consequences, would have been afflicting. Our 
vision is very limited and imperfect, and our 
judgments of men and things exceedingly liable 
to error; and while it becomes such a frail and 
unworthy creature as man to speak cautiously and 
with deep humility of divine direction, it is none 
the less his duty to be daily striving for it, in 
abasedness of soul, as an unspeakable and un- 
merited favor, vouchsafed, in great condescension, 
to the sincere seeker. 

The following narrative, written by Dinah W. 
Gofl', gives some account of the dangers and trials 
to which her parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Goflf, 
and their family, were subjected during the fear- 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 5 

ful pcenes of the Irish Rebellion, in 1198. These 
Friends, relying on the irracious, protecting care 
of the Almighty for deliverance from lawless men, 
refused either to take up arms in their own de- 
fence, or to quit the perilous post of duty. 

The christian disposition of meekness and for- 
bearance, strengthened by a holy courage and firm- 
ness, proved in this instance, as in many others, 
the means, under the divine blessing, of safety 
amid circumstances of extraordinary trial. On the 
other hand, the declaration of our Lord and Sa- 
viour is often, fulfilled, that they who take the 
sword shall perish by it. The wrathful and vio- 
lent, whether individuals or nations, frequently 
bring destruction on themselves, while the gentle 
and inoffensive dwell in security and peace. 
The account commences thus, viz : — 
It has often occurred to me that I ought to 
kave some little memorial of the preservation ex- 
tended by our Heavenly Father to my beloved pa- 
rents and the family, as well as of the remarkable 
faith and patience with which they were favored, 
under circumstances of a very peculiar and dis- 
tressing character. 

It was about the middle of the Fifth month, 
1798, that the county of Wexford, in Ireland, 
became a scene of open rebellion, headed by 

B H , a Protestant, and two Roman Ca- 

1* 



G DIVINE PROTECTION. 

tholic Priests, John Murphy and Philip Koche.* 
The aims of the insurgents were various ; some 
were more cruelly disposed than others ; all deter- 
mined to liberate themselves by force of arms from 
the unequal yoke, as they believed it, of the Brit- 
ish government, and to become a free people ; some 
to bring all Ireland to Catholicism, &c. 

" About ten days before the rebellion broke out, 
a Roman Catholic, who resided near, called on 
my father, and desired to speak to him in private. 
He then informed him that the county would, in 
the course of a few days, be in a state of general 
insurrection. My father replied that he could not 
credit it, for that he had frequently heard such 
rumors. The person assured him that he knew 
certainly it would be so, and that he had procured 
a vessel, now lying at Duncannon, to convey him- 
self and family to Wales ; and that, as a friend, he 
gladly oflfered accommodation to our household. 
My father thanked him for this act of friendship, 
but said that it felt to him a matter of great import- 
ance to remove from the position allotted him by 
Providence, yet that he would consider of it, and 
consult his wife. After having endeavored to seek 

* Murphy was chief instigator to cruelty and murder ; 
he pretended to catch the flying bullets of the royalist 
troops, but was at length killed by a cannon ball. Roche, 
though more humane, was finally hung. 



DIVINE PllOTECTIOX. T 

best wisdom, my dear parents concluded that it 
was right for them to remain at liome, placing their 
dependence and confidence in Him who alone can 
protect, and who has promised to preserve those 
that put their trust in him. 

The estate and spacious mansion, called Hore- 
town, occupied by my parents, Jacob and Elizabeth 
Goff, and the family, w(;re situated about ten miles 
from each of the towns of Wexford and New Ross. 
The rebels formed two camps, at Carrickburn and 
Corbitt Hill, one on each side of the house, at 
distances of two and five miles from it. This 
central position caused a constant demand on us 
for provisions, with which the insurgents were 
daily supplied, and they often said that they spared 
the lives of the family for that purpose. 

A day or two after the commencement of the 
rebellion, two carts were brought to our door, and 
the cellars emptied of all the salt provisions, beer, 
cider, &c., which ware taken off to the camp. Four- 
teen beautiful horses were turned out of my father's 
stables, and mounted in the yard by two or more 
of the rebels on each. Some, which had not been 
trained, resisted by plunging ; but their riders soon 
subdued them, running their pikes into them, and 
otherwise using great cruelty. Much of our cattle 
they also took off, and orders were sent each week 
from the camp at Carrickburn, to have a cow and 



8 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

some sheep killed, which were sent for at stated 
times. 

Soon after the general rising and arming of the 
people in the county of Wexford,* we were roused 
one morning by the sound of cannon at a distance, 
and quickly heard that there had been an engage- 
ment at a place called '' The Three Rocks," on the 
mountains of Forth, near Wexford, between the 
yeomanry and the rebels. After a severe conflict, 
the former were put to flight, with great loss of life ; 
sixty or seventy were buried in one grave. 

Two of my cousins named Heatly, whose mother 
had married out of our society, were oflBcers in that 
corps, and escaped to our house under cover of the 
darkness of night. On their arrival, they found 
that their father and mother, and seven or eight 
children had been turned out of their comfortable 
home, and had also fled for refuge to my father's, 
where they were affectionately received. We had all 
retired to rest when these young oflBcers arrived. 

* Keightley remarks : " It was in the county of Wex- 
ford that the rebellion really raged — a county which 
would probably have remained at rest, had not the peo- 
ple been goaded into rebellion by the cruelties inflicted 
by the military and the self-styled loyalists. It was here 
only that priests appeared among the rebels, and that 
murders on a large scale were perpetrated by them." — 
Hist, of England., vol. iii. 



DIVINE PROTECTION, 9 

The thankfulness of their parents, who had never 
expected to see them again, passes all description : 
they were much affected, and immediately returned 
thanks, on the bended knee, for the preservation of 
their children. For some days, the two young men 
remained in the house, hiding from room to room, 
sometimes under the beds, as there was a frequent 
search for arms and Orangemen by the rebels. 
Some of the chiefs of these, having information of 
their being with us, called, demanding them to sur- 
render, and offering them the United Irishmen's 
Oath. This, however, they resolutely refused, say- 
ing they had taken the oath of allegiance to their 
sovereign but a few days before, and would never 
perjure themselves. On this, one of the rebels laid 
his hand on his sword, and in great irritation said, 
" were it not for the respect they had for Mr. Goff, 
and that they did not wish to spill blood in his 
hall, their lives should be the forfeit of their 
refusal." At length, my cousins left our house at 
night, intending to make their way to Ross, and 
took shelter in the cottage of an old Roman Catholic 
nurse employed by the family ; but by her they 
w^ere betrayed, and handed over to the rebels, who 
took them prisoners to the camp. The lives of 
these interesting young men were, however, remark- 
ably preserved, after they had endured much hard- 
ship in prison. 



10 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

Two Roman Catholic iiien-sorvaiitri, belonging to 
our family and lodging in the house, were compelled 
to join the rebels to save their lives : and were 
armed with pikes — the first we had seen. On my 
dear mother's hearing of their having brought these 
weapons, she sent to let them know she could not 
allow anything of the kind to be brought into her 
house ; so each night they left them outside the door. 
They behaved quietly and respectfully throughout, 
generally returning home at the close of the day. 

The rebels set fire to the houses of many Prot- 
estants ; and in the morning after the general 
rising, a Roman Catholic family, seven in number, 
came from Enniscorthy, apparently in great dis- 
tress, saying they left the town on fire. They 
received shelter and hospitable entertainment from 
my dear parents, and remained with us the whole 
time. My mother often remarked, with reference 
to her large family, that provisions from day to day 
were so wonderfully granted that it seemed, like 
the cruise of oil and the barrel of meal, never-failing. 

About twenty persons surrounded our dinner 
table each day, beside those in the kitchen, four of 
whom were members of our Society ; which my 
mother considered a great advantage at that awful 
period. She frequently said that " hind's feet " 
appeared to be given her, in being enabled with 
extraordinary ease to get through the numerous 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 11 

household duties that then devolved upon her. 
Thus the gracious promise was verified in her 
experience : — "As thy days so shall thy strength be." 

A rebel once inquired of her, " Madam, do you 
think we shall gain the day?" Feeling it to be a 
serious question, after a pause, she replied, "The 
Almighty only knows." He answered, "You are 
right, madam ; have a good heart ; not a hoAr of 
your head shall be hurt ; but when this business is 
over, the Quakers are all to be driven down into 
Connaught, where the land is worth about two- 
pence an acre, and you will have to till tJiat, and 
live on it as you can." My mother smiled and said, 
"Give us a good portion, for we have a large 
family." 

Hannah and Arabella (afterwards Fennell), with 
Dinah W. Goff, aged about thirty, nineteen and 
fourteen, were the only daughters at home at this 
time. The former two usually walked three miles 
on First-days to the meeting-house a.t Forrest, 
accompanied by two of the w^omen-servants, though 
they met with many interruptions on the way. 

One day some of the people said, as they passed 
the Roman Catholic chapel, "How they dare us 
by going through the streets! If they persist, they 
shall be taken and dragged to the altar of the 
chapel, and suffer the penalty of their obstinacy." 
But my sisters passed quietly on. On one of these 



12 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

occasions, they remarked that a strange clog accom- 
panied them ; it followed them for some miles, and 
when they got safe home, could not be induced to 
enter the house, but went away. This circum- 
stance, though simple, seemed remarkable at the 
time. I fully believe that their minds were not 
resting on outward help, but on that Omnipotent 
arm which was mercifully underneath to sustain. 
They were enabled regularly to pursue their wa}', 
and to unite with the few Friends that were per- 
mitted to meet, remarking those opportunities as 
being peculiarly solemn. Our dear parents would 
gladly have joined them, but were unable, from the 
infirmities of age, to walk so far, and had no horses 
left to draw a carriage. 

The family were always assembled for the 
purpose of reading the Scriptures, after the fatigues 
of the day were over ; and one evening, a priest 
coming in, as he often did at other times, perhaps 
to see what we were doing, remarked on the 
quietude which prevailed. My mother said it was 
usually the case when the hurry of household cares 
had ceased. He said he came with good news — 
that we were now all of one religion the world 
over. My mother then inquired what it w^as, as 
she believed there was only one true religion. He 
replied, that an edict from the Pope had arrived, 
and that it proclaimed the universal Roman 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 13 

Catholic religion, adding that it was high time for 
her to put up the cross. She asked what he meant 
by the cross. He said, " Put up the outward sign 
on yourself and your children." She answered, 
That they should never do ; but she was thankful 
in believing that her heavenly Father was enabling 
her to bear the cross, and that she trusted He 
might be pleased to continue to do so to the end. 
I was standing near him at the time, when he put 
his arms round me, and said, '' My dear child, we 
shall have you all to ourselves ;" and, placing his 
hand on my father's shoulder, he said, " Mr. GoC, you 
shall be one of our head senators." This unhappy 
man, we afterwards heard, lost his life in attacking 
a Protestant gentleman, on whose kindness and 
hospitality he had thrown himself, when his own 
house was burnt down by the English troops. To 
us he was uniformly kind, and we thought his 
attention might, under Providence, have had some 
influence on the minds of the rebels. 

Many hundreds were daily on our lawn, and our 
business was to hand them food as they demanded 
it. Their fatigue and the heat of summer being 
exhausting, large tubs of milk and water were 
placed at the hall and back doors, with great quan- 
tities of bread and cheese. The servants were 
frequently obliged to stay up all night to bake 
bread for them, and my mother and sisters often 
2 



14 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

made their hands bleed in cutting the bread and 
cheese : if not cut up, they would carry ofi* whole 
loaves and cheeses at the ends of their pikes. 
They took carving-knives and others of large size 
from the pantry to fasten on poles, thus converting 
them into destructive weapons : on seeing which, 
my mother had the remainder carefully locked up 
after the meals. At times, they gave us dreadful 
details of their own cruelty, and of the agonies of 
the sufferers, to the great distress of my sisters and 
myself One day after a battle, they related many 
such acts. I was handing them food at the time, 
and could not refrain from bursting into tears, 
throwing down what I had in my hand, and 
running away into the house. 

We were greatly struck by observing that, how- 
ever outrageously a party might come, there were 
g(;nerally some among them who were disposed to 
promote peace. Such would say, "You ought not 
to treat them so — the poor ladies who have been 
up all night making bread for you with their own 
hands.'' One morning a most violent party 
advanced, yelling and swearing hideously, like 
savages intent on rapine, so that we fully believed 
they had formed some wicked design ; but tv»x) 
young men, who looked sorrowful and alarmed on 
our behalf, though perfect strangers, came forward, 
requestiii^^ we mijrht all withdraw and shut the 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 15 

door, as they could not but dread the consequences 
if the party were allowed to enter the house. The 
young men stationed themselves on the steps of 
the hall-door, drew their great cavalry swords, and, 
flourishing them, declared that no one should pass ; 
pleading for us in the most kind and energetic 
manner — " Why v^ould you injure Mr. Goff and his 
family, who are doing all they can, feeding and 
providing for you ?" After a long struggle, the 
company relinquished their evil purpose. The 
young men were quite overcome with the exertion 
and heat: my father warmly thanked them, and 
gave them silk handkerchiefs to wipe their faces, 
inquiring their names — one of them was called 

Dennis of Gorey. On that occasion, many 

wicked-looking women were outside, evidently 
waiting for plunder ; and, when disappointed, they 
made frightful faces, and shook their hands at us 
as we stood at the windows. One of them was 
heard to say when they withdrew, " You are a set 
of chicken-hearted fellows !" 

A severe conflict took place at Enniscorthy, the 
garrison being forced to surrender,- and many 
hundreds, as we were told, left dead in the streets. 
Two days after it, our Quarterly Meeting for 
Leinster province was, in usual course, held there ; 
and was attended by David Sands from America, a 
valued minister of our Society, who was then 



1.6 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

traveling through Ireland, with Abrahiuii Jackson 
as his companion. As they passed through Ennis- 
corthy, the latter had to alight and assist in 
removing the dead bodies, which still lay in the 
streets, from before the wheels of the carriage. 
The meeting, though small, was said to have been 
remarkably solemn, as it well might be, and also 
much favored : many other Friends with ourselves 
were deprived of the means of attending, by the 
want of horses which the rebels had taken. 

A barn, about a mile and a half from us, 
belonging to a gentleman who lived at Scullabogue, 
was used as a prison, in which about two hundred 
and fifty persons, chiefly Protestants, were confined 
— men, women, and children, some being infants in 
their mothers' arms. There they remained from 
Sixth until Third-day, without receiving any food, 
except some sheaves of wheat occasionally thrown 
in, that the rebels might have the amusement of 
seeing them scramble for the grains. On the day 
of the battle of New Ross, sixty or more of them 
were brought out on the lawn, and ofiTered, one by 
one, life and liberty if they would change their 
religious profession ; but they all refused. Some, 
after being half tortured to death, answered, " No ; 
give me more powder and ball first." 

[The cases of two prisoners, who were brothers, 
named John and Samuel Jones, are particularly 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 17 

touching. On their refusal to turn Catholics, they 
were offered tlieir lives if they would say that they 
were Friends. This they did not feel at liberty to 
do, not being in membership, although Friends in 
principle. John was first executed, while Samuel, 
who was kindly supported by his wife, quoted 
the text, "He that loseth his life for my sake, 
shall find it." He bore his martyrdom with 
firmness, and was put to death after being shot 
at five times.] The wife, with admirable fortitude 
stood between them when they were shot, and 
held up a hand of each. She then implored the 
murderers to take her life also ; but they re- 
fused, saying, " They would not dishonoi; the 
Virgin Mary by killing a woman." I saw her 
afterwards in deep affliction passing our gate, as 
she sat in a cart with the remains of her husband 
and brother. On the same day, — viz. the 4th oi 
Sixth month, — the barn was set on fire, and all the 
other prisoners (said to be one hundred and eighty^ 
four) were consumed. Some of the poor women 
put their infants out through the windows, hoping 
to save them ; but the ruflBans took them up on 
their pikes, and threw them back into the flames. 
I saw the smoke of the barn, and cannot now forget 
the strong and dreadful effluvium which was wafted 
from it to our lawn.* 

* Yet Keightley remarks — " We fear, if a fair balance 

2* 



18 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

In the engagement at New Ross the insurgents 
were defeated. This was an awful scene of conflict 
and bloodshed, continuing with but little cessation 
for nearly twelve hours. It is stated that two 
thousand persons were killed. The king's troops 
retreated twice, and the town was in the hands of 
the rebels, when a reinforcement was understood to 
have come up and put them to flight. Some 
asserted that no reinforcement arrived, and that the 
assailing multitude fled when there were none to 
pursue them. General Johnson, who commanded 
the royalists, said that the success of that day was 
to be attributed to Providence, and was not the 
work of man. Several Friends of New Ross had 
previously retired to Waterford ; others who 
remained were remarkably preserved, though the 
town was set on fire in different quarters. 

Previously to the burning of the barn, a company 
came one day with two horses, saying they had 
orders to take my dear father and our cousin, 
J. Heatly, to the camp — the latter being the father 
of the two young officers before-mentioned. It was 
nearly noon when they came and seized their two 
victims ; and my mother having gone to give some 

were struck of the bloodshed, the cruelties, and the other 
enormities committed during these unhappy times, that 
the preponderance would be greatly on the side of the 
royalists." 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 19 

orders in the kitchen, I ran to call her, saying they 
were forcing my father on horseback. On this she 
came out, and pressing through tlie dense crowd on 
the lawn, asked them peremptorily, " What are you 
doing with my husband ?" On their saying they 
were going to take him to the camp, she said, in 
the same tone, " You shall not take my husband, 
for he is in poor health ; and if you put him in 
prison, I think he could not live many weeks : he 
will be here for you at any time you wish, as he 
cannot leave his house." They were then silent, 
and quietly relinquished their design. My mother 
remarked, " We have got what you call protections 
from the generals." These were sent for, and read 
aloud, to this effect : — " Let no one molest Mr. Goff 
or his family, they being hostages to the united 
army. Signed in the camp of Carrickburn by two 
generals, Harvey and Roche." These documents 
had been previously sent without any request made 
by the family. The party were then satisfied, as 
related to my father : all entreaty was, however, 
unavailing with respect to my cousin, J. Heatly, 
who was taken away on horseback, amid the 
shrieks and cries of his afflicted wife and children. 
We afterwards heard that they soon made him 
dismount, and walk ten miles to Wexford. They 
then put him on board a prison-ship on the river 
Slaney, where he remained until the insurgents 



20 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

were totally defeated. He witnessed many of his 
acquaintances and fellow-sufferers — said to be to the 
number of ninety-seven in all — taken out of the 
same ship and put to death, with very cruel circum- 
stances, on the Wexford Bridge ; but he and a friend 
of his had a remarkable escape. The prisoners 
were called out by two and two ; and when it came 
to his and his friend's turn, he made some excuses 
for delay. The rebels continued calling for them 
from the deck of the vessel, with their bayonets 
pointed down towards them ; but they still delayed 
going. At this juncture, a rumor reached their 
guards that the English army were marching into 
the town ; and this report throwing them into a 
state of terror, the lives of the two prisoners were 
saved. It proved, however, to be only a few 
yeomen, boldly preceded by an officer of the corps, 
which bad been defeated in the engagement on the 
mountains of Forth. The rebels took flight in all 
directions, and Wexford was left in possession of the 
English, to the great joy of the loyal inhabitants, 
who had suffered many privations and cruelties. 

John Heatly often related the circumstance 
afterwards, saying that Providence had in an 
extraordinary manner saved his life. He had been 
many years in the navy. His house, Rock View, 
was occupied for some time by the rebels, who left 
it a complete wreck. 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 21 

A party, who assumed the rank of officers in the 
rebel army, came to our house one day, and 
directed to have dinner prepared immediately. On 
my mother's requesting the servant to lay the tables 
in the hall, they indignantly asked, " Is it there you 
are going to give us our dinner ? Show us into the 
best parlor in the house." But on my mother 
assuring them that she had seen noblemen sitting 
in that hall, they became calm and satisfied. They 
then asked for spirits and wine, saying they would 
have some ; and when my mother told them that 
there were none in the house, they were greatly 
irritated, still saying they must have some. On 
being spoken to by my mother in the singular 
number, they desired her not to say thee and thou 
to them, as if she were speaking to a dog ; and on 
her again saying " thou" to one of them, he flour- 
ished his sword over her head, and said, haughtily, 
" No more of your theeing and thouing to me." 
They ate their dinner, however, and went ofif peace- 
ably. 

We were now informed that orders had been 
given to take my dear father's life, and my mother 
was most particular in keejoing us all close together 
around him, saying that if it were permitted that 
our lives should be taken, we might be enabled to 
support and encourage each other, or else all go 
together I One day, about noon, a large company 



U2 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

appeared on the lawn, carrying a black flag, which 
we well knew to be the signal for death. My dear 
father advanced to meet them as usual, with his 
open, benevolent countenance, and my mother, 
turning to me, said, with her sweet, placid smile, 
" Perhaps my stiff stays may prevent my dying 
easily." On which the Roman Catholic who had 
taken refuge with us, said, " Have faith in God, 
madam ; I hope they will not hurt yo^i :" she 
quickly pushed forward and joined my dear father, 
who was surrounded by a large party. He 
observed to them, he feared they might injure each 
other, as their muskets were prepared for firing ; 
when one of them replied, " Let those who are 
afraid keep out of the way." My mother distinctly 
heard one of them say, "■ Why don't you begin V 
and each seemed looking to the other to commence 
the work of death. Some of them presently mut- 
tered, "We cannot." At this critical moment, some 
women came in great agitation through the crowd, 
clinging to their husbands, and dragging them 
away. Thus a higher Power evidently appeared 
to frustrate the intentions of the murderers, and 
my beloved father was again graciously delivered. 
One man said there was " no use in taking Mr. 
Goflf's life ;" but his two sons, if there, should soon 
be killed, and then the estate would be theirs. 
One morning a most outrageous party advanced 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 23 

towards the house, yelling and roaring like savages, 
evidently with some wicked design ; but two young 
men who looked serious again interposed in our 
behalf, and would not allow them to enter. Thus 
were the words of David fulfilled: "The wrath of 
man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath thou 
wilt restrain." 

A 3^oung man, who, with his mother, kept a 
neighboring public house, used at that time often 
to walk into our drawing-room, lay his sword on 
the table, and amuse me and my young cousin by 
giving us his finely decorated hat to admire. One 
afternoon he tried to prevail on us two to go with 
him to the camp, saying it was an interesting sight, 
such as we might never have an opportunity again 
to see. We were then sixteen and fourteen years 
of age ; and on my saying I did not think my 
mother would permit us to go, he desired us not to 
tell her, and promised to bring us safely back. 
My mother, ever watchful, was at this moment 
crossing the hall ; and seeing us together, she came 
forward and inquired what he was saying. When 
we told her, she asked him how he dared to request 
the children to go to such a place ? She then rea- 
soned with us on the impropriety of listening to 
such invitations, saying she should never have 
expected to see us again if we had once gone. 

Three or four hundred English troops, accom- 



24 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

panied by Hompesch's German hussars, at length 
landed at Duncannon Fort ; this was announced 
by the firing of cannon early in the morning. On 
my mother's entering my room, I expressed much 
pleasure at the intelligence, when she replied : 
"My dear, we must rejoice with trembling; having 
much to dread from their being strangers, and we 
know not what may be permitted; we have only 
to place our trust and confidence in Him who hath 
hitherto preserved us!" This little army formed 
an encampment on my late uncle Caesar Sutton's 
lawn at Longgraguo, about two miles from us. 
The next day, whilst we were sitting at dinner, 
one of the servants said the rebel forces were 
coming from Wexford in thousands, intending to 
surround the English encampment. The royal 
troops, commanded by General Moore, having had 
previous information, were, however, on the alert, 
and met them on the road near our house. We 
counted twenty-four pieces of cannon belonging to 
the rebels, which passed our entrance. A dreadful 
scene, partly in our view, was now enacted, and 
lasted for three hours. The firing was awful ! 
Having closed the doors and windows in the lower 
part of the house as much as possible, we all retired 
to an upper room, and there remained in a state of 
fearful suspense. It was a terrible sight, and deep- 
ly affected us, the cannon balls falling thickly about 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 25 

the house. On one of ray sisters raising tlie win- 
dow to look out, a ball whizzed by her head; and 
this, with many others, we afterwards found. At 
length, seeing the poor, deluded people running in 
all directions, we learned that they were routed. 

Two soon came to the house to have their wounds 
dressed, which my sister Arabella did as well as 
she could ; one had a ball in the cap of his knee, 
and both bled profusely. They expressed much 
thankfulness, and hoped they might soon be able 
again to fight for their freedom. A fine young 
man coming, who had received a severe wound in 
his side and shoulder, my dear mother used means 
to relieve him, and dressed him comfortably in 
clean linen, while he frequently exclaimed, " Do, 
ma'am, try to stop the blood. I don't mind the 
pain, so that I may but fight for my liberty.'' Ob- 
serving him in danger from the great injury, she 
spoke to him in a very serious strain, and also re- 
commended his going to the Wexford Infirmary. 
We heard afterwards that he died on the way a 
few hours after he left us. This battle was at 
Goff's Bridge, on the 20th of Sixth month. Several 
hundreds of the insurgents were killed, but not 
many of the military. 

Soon after the firing had ceased, wo observed 
two of the cavalry moving slowly and suspiciously 
up our avenue ; on which mv father went down to 
3 



26 DIVINE PROTECTION, 

the hall door, and advanced with a smiling counte- 
nance and extended arms to meet them. One, who 
was a German, at once embraced him, saying, in 
broken English, " You be Friend — no enemy, no 
enemy ;" and gave him the kiss of peace ; adding, 
"We have Friends in Germany." We got them 
ea-ffs, milk, bread, &c., to refresh them, after the 
excessive fatigue and excitement which it was 
obvious they had suffered. 

The evening before this engagement, one of my 
sisters, passing through the servants' hall, observed 
the coachman leaning on his arm, apparently much 
distressed. When she requested to know the cause, 
he hesitated and said he could not tell her ; but on 
her entreating him, and adding that she should like 
to know the worst, he said that he had heard it 
planned at the camp, that, if they conquered the 
royalists, we were all to be murdered, and the gene- 
rals were to take possession of our house. He then 
added, weeping, "Oh, our plans are too wicked for 
the Lord to prosper them!" My sister remarked 
that we trusted in a Power stronger than man, and 
able to protect us in the midst of danger ; or to 
that eflfect 

During the night following this battle, our house 
was surrounded by Hompesch's cavalry, who slept 
on the lawn wrapped up in their grey coats. The 
next morning twenty or thirty of the oflBcers break- 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 27 

fasted with us, and told us that we had had a mar- 
vellous escape on the previous day ; the cannon 
having been placed on the bridge, and pointed 
against the house to batter it down ; even the 
match was lighted, when a gentleman, who knew 
my father and us, came forward, and told them the 
house was "inhabited by a loyal Quaker and his 
family." They had previously supposed it must 
be a rendezvous of rebels, and feared, from its 
commanding position, that they themselves might 
have been fired upon from it. Some of the offi- 
cers, being refreshed by their meal, even shed 
tears when they reflected on the danger we had 
been in. 

My cousins, Richard and Ann Golf, of Hope- 
field, near Horetown, had been observed by *' the 
Vnited Men " to persevere in walking to Forrest 
Meeting, whilst the country was in a state of re- 
bellion ; and were apprised that, if they continued 
this practice, and refused to unite in the Roman 
Catholic forms of worship, they should be put to 
death, and their house burned. This threat brought 
them under deep mental exercise, accompanied with 
fervent prayers that they might be enabled to come 
to a right decision ; and, collecting their large family 
together, in humble confidence that best direction 
might be mercifully afforded, after a season of 
solemn retirement, they laid the matter before their 



28 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

children. On this memorable occasion, the noble 
and intrepid language of Fade Groff, their eldest 
son, then about seventeen years of age, is worthy 
of being recorded. "Father," said he, "rejoice 
that we are found worthy to suffer." His parents 
were deeply affected, and their minds becaijie so 
much strengthened, that next morning, rising before 
daybreak, they all proceeded to the meeting, and 
were enabled to continue to attend Divine worship 
without molestation ; expressing thankfulness in 
thus being permitted to accomplish what they con- 
sidered their religious duty. 

David Sands and his companion attended that 
meeting, and, returning to Horetown, were joyfully 
received by us: my dear mother saying that his 
visit reminded her of the good Samaritan pouring 
oil into our wounded minds. The three families 
now occupying our house all assembled with him 
on this solemn occasion, and his communication 
was truly impressive and consoling, inducing ten- 
derness in all present. He first alluded to the deep 
trials we had suffered ; then to the infinite mercy 
which had brought the family through them; and 
afterwards offered a solemn tribute of thanksgiving 
and praise to the great Preserver of men, whose 
power had been so remarkably displayed for our 
protection, when surrounded by danger on every 
hand. It was. indeed, a memorable visit, for which 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 29 

thankfulness prevailed to Him from whom all con- 
solation is derived. The Roman Catholic family- 
had never before heard these plain truths so 
declared, nor witnessed anything of the kind ; but 
they all united in prayer on their knees, and the 
mother said : " I never heard such a minister as 
that gentleman ; he must be an angel from Heaven 
sent to you!" 

The rebellion was now at an end ; but, though 
peace and order were partially restored to our 
afflicted country, yet the sad consequences still re- 
mained ; not only houses in ruins, burned and torn 
in pieces by both armies, were to be seen in all 
directions, but many of the rebels who were out- 
lawed, took up their abode in caverns in the wood 
of Killoughran, and sallied forth by night to com- 
mit depredations on such of the peaceable inhabi- 
tants as had returned to their dilapidated dwellings. 
Twice they visited us, and on these occasions our 
sufferings were greater than on any during the 
rebellion. My father had been urged to accept the 
nightly services of a guard of yeomanry, but al- 
ways positively refused. 

On the first night, having all retired to rest, we 
were aroused by a terrific knocking with muskets 
at the hall door. My dear father raised his cham- 
ber window, and requested them to wait a few 
minutes, and he would open the door ; but they con- 
3* 



30 DIVINE PROTECTIOX. 

tiiiued knocking still louder, and swearing most 
awfully until he went down. On his opening the 
door, they seized him, and instantly rushed up to 
his room, breaking a mahogany desk and book- 
case to pieces with their muskets, and demanding 
money. My father handed them twenty guineas, 
which was all he had in the house ; but they per- 
sisted in asking for more, and swore, in a most 
profane manner, that if he did not give them more, 
they would take his life. I slept with a little niece 
in a room inside his, and we were entreated by my 
sister A. not to rise, as we should be of no use. I 
endeavored to comply with her request, and re- 
main quiet, till I heard a dreadful scuffle, and my 
father's voice exclaiming, " Don't murder me !" I 
could then no longer keep still, but opened the 
door, and saw one of the men, dressed in scarlet 
regimentals, with full uniform, epaulettes, &c., 
rushing towards my father with a drawn sword in 
his hand. My sister intercepted it by throwing 
her arms around my father's neck, when the point 
of the sword touched her side, but not so as to injure 
her. In the struggle the candle went out, and 
they called most violently for light. The horror 
which I felt at this awful moment can scarcely be 
expressed. My sister went dow^n towards the 
kitchen, and found a man standing at the foot of 
the first flight of stairs ; she asked him to light the 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 31 

candle ; when he said she might go down, and he 
would stand guard, and not allow any one to pass. 
This he performed faithfully, and she returned in 
safety. I could not, after this, leave the party, but 
followed them through the house. The dreadful 
language they used, some of which was addressed 
to my sisters, impresses me with horror to this day. 
Money seemed the sole object of their visit that 
night, as they repeatedly said, "Give me more 
money, I tell you ;" assuring my father that, if he 
did not give them more, they would murder him. 
They even said from minute to minute, while they 
held a pistol to his forehead, " Now you're just 
gone." They then forced him to kneel down, re- 
peating the same words, and presenting the pistol. 
Seeing his situation, I threw myself on my knees 
on the floor, and clung with my arms round him ; 
when the ruffians pushed me away, saying, " You'll 
be killed if you stop there." But my father drew 
me towards him more closely, saying, " She would 
rather be hurt if I am." They snapped the pistol 
several times, which perhaps was not charged, as it 
did not go off. When they found there was no 
more money, they de&isted, asking for watches, 
which were given them ; and at length they went 
away, after eating and drinking all they could ob- 
tain, and charging my father to have more money 
for them the next time, or they declared they would 



32 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

have his life. So saying, one of them, who ap- 
peared in a great rage, and had a cavalry sword in 
his hand, cut at the handrail of the hall stairs, the 
mark of which still remains. 

About a fortnight afterwards, before the famih' 
withdrew to rest, my father had a presentiment that 
the robbers might come again that night, and sat 
up later than usual. About midnight they arrived, 
knocking furiously as before, and fully prepared to 
plunder the house. They soon emptied the draw- 
ers, and took all the wearing apparel they could 
get, that did not betray the costume of Friends ; 
so that we were deprived of nearly all our clothes. 
On perceiving that they were taking all, my mother 
begged one shirt and one pair of stockings for my 
father, which they threw at her face in the rudest 
manner, using dreadful language. They behaved 
most violently, and, spreading quilts and sheets 
on the floor, filled them with all sorts of clothing 
they could get; they then called for victuals to eat 
and drink, desiring my sister to drink their health, 
putting the cup of small beer to her lips, and bid- 
ding her " wish long life and success to the babes 
of the wood," as they called themselves. This she 
steadfastly refused. They then declared they would 
come again in two weeks, and take us all to live 
with them in the wood, '' and to cut bread and but- 
ter for the babes." Their behavior was so insulting, 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 



33 



and my dear parents were so fearful of these threats 
being realized, that they determined on sending us 
young females to my cousins Goflf and Neville, who 
were then merchants in Ross; and there we re- 
mained for some weeks, until tranquillity was res- 
tored to the country. 

After the robbers had finished their repast, they 
threatened to take my father's life, behaving very 
outrageously, and saying they nmst take him to 
their main guard at a little distance, and murder 
him there, as they did not like to do it in his own 
house. They then led him out, and we all at- 
tempted to follow; but they pushed my mother 
back, saying that she should not come — it would 
be too painful a sight for her to see her husband 
murdered, which they certainly would do. It was 
very dark, but my sister Arabella positively re- 
fused to leave her father, and they allowed her to 
accompany him. Whilst crossing the lawn, the 
root of a beech-tree, projecting above the path, 
caused him to stumble ; he then sat down, and 
said, if they were determined to take his life, they 
might as well do it there. My dear sis^r stood by 
in a state of awful suspense. They rudely asked 
him if he had anything to say, telling him his time 
was come. On hearing this, he remained quite 
silent, and they, not understanding it, hurried him 
to speak; when he said, he prayed that the Al- 



84 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

mighty might be merciful to liim, and be pleased 
to forgive him his trespasses and sins, and also to 
forgive them, as he did sincerely. They said that 
was a good wish, and inquired if he had anything 
more to say. He requested them to be tender to- 
wards his wife and children ; on which they said, 
"Good night, Mr. Goff; we only wanted to rattle 
the mocuses out of you," — meaning guineas. 

When they took my father forcibly out of the 
house, my mother, though much distressed, was 
favored with her usual quietude and composure 
of mind, trusting in the Lord, who had been 
pleased to support her through many deep trials, 
and then forsook her not. So strong was her con- 
fidence, that she even called to the servant for 
some warm water, to prepare a little negus for my 
dear father against his return ; when I said, '' It is 
not likely we shall ever see my father again alive, 
for they are going to murder him :" on which she 
replied, with firmness : "I have faith to believe 
they will never be permitted to take his life." In 
about a quarter of an hour, my valued and tender 
parent returned, pale and exhausted ; and throw- 
ing himself on the sofa, said : " This work will finish 
me ; I cannot hold out much longer :" which 
proved to be the case. 

Remarkable also was the protecting care vouch- 
safed to my uncle Joshua Wilson (my mother's 



DIVINE PROTECTION 35 

brother,) whose residence at Mount Prospect, near 
Rathangan, was forcibly entered by a party of 
rebels. One night, after the family had retired to 
rest, they were aroused by a tremendous volley of 
musketry, which at once shattered the hall door ; 
and a loud cry was raised, of " Arms, money, or 
life !" with most awful swearing. My uncle went 
hastily down in his dressing-gown, followed by his 
wife, who heard them exclaim: "You are a dead 
man !" and seeing one of the men present a pistol 
at my uncle's head, she rushed between him and 
the ruffian, exclaiming : '' Thou shalt not, and 
darest not, take my husband's life, or touch him ; 
for the arm of the Almighty is stronger than thou 
art!" The man appeared confounded, and let the 
pistol drop from his powerless hand ; it was very 
remarkable, that the whole party left the house soon 
after, without doing. any further injury. 

Many w^ere the heart-rending sufferings that 
some families endured, being turned out of their 
peaceful homes, and spending many nights in the 
fields and ditches. Others, who still remained in 
their houses, were wonderfully favored with faith 
and patience under great privations, conscientiously 
adhering to the revealed law of their God, and thus 
experiencing, to their humbling admiration, the 
name of the Lord to be " a strong tower." in which 
the righteous find safety. On taking a retrospect 



36 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

of this awful period, and of the strength of mina 
evinced by my beloved parents, sisters, and others, 
my heart overflows with living praise and thanks- 
giving to the Father of mercies, and God of all con- 
solation, who was, indeed, " strength in weakness, 
riches in poverty, and a very present helper in the 
time of need." 

The repeated shocks and trials, which my hon- 
ored father endured during these fearful times, 
were too great for his strength of body; and on 
the 23d of Twelfth month, in the same year, 1198, 
surrounded by many of his family, he gently and 
peacefully breathed his last, being then in his sixty- 
third year. Our merciful Saviour sweetly sus- 
tained him in faith and confidence ; his almighty 
arm being underneath to comfort and support him 
whilst passing through the valley of the shadow of 
death. He never expressed -a murmur; but, in 
humble Christian patience and acquiescence with 
the Divine will, often evinced his thankfulness for 
the mercies received. To one of my sisters, whom 
he observed weeping a short time before his death, 
he said : "Do not shed a tear for me, my dear ; 
but rather rejoice and be thankful that the Al- 
mighty has been pleased to permit me to die in 
peace, with my dear family around me ; and not 
by the hands of wicked and unreasonable men." 
He took my hand affectionately, and said : " My 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 37 

dear child, I must leave you all ;" and, after a 
pause, added : " Keep near to the Lord, and he 
will be a Father and a Friend to thee, when I am 
no more." 

Horetown now passed to my eldest brother, Wil- 
liam Goff, and my beloved mother removed to 
Dublin. She survived her affectionate husband 
nineteen years, and died in that city in the seventy- 
eighth year of her age, in perfect peace. For several 
years she was in the station of an elder. She al- 
ways endeavored to rule her own house well, and 
was accounted worthy of double honor, and much 
beloved by her many descendants. Sixty children, 
grandchildren and great-grandchildren, were living 
at the period of her decease, in the year 1817. 

She was granddaughter of Thomas Wilson, an 
account of whose religious labors is published with 
James Dickinson's. Her last illness was short, being 
caused by a paralytic seizure, of which she had 
previously had several. On the morning before 
the seizure, she entered the drawing-room with an 
expression of countenance remarkably solemn, and, 
kneeling down at my side, engaged in fervent vocal 
supplication for her numerous family, that the bless- 
ing of the Most High might rest on them, and that 
He might be pleased to continue with her to the 
end. Many consoling expressions she uttered, and 
when near the close, she said to me : " May the 



38 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

blessing of the everlasting hills surround thee, my 
dear child, when I am gone." She was perfectly 
conscious to the last, and sweetly resigned to her 
divine Master's will. 

It is comforting to have a well-grounded hope, 
that, through the mediation and redeeming love of 
our blessed Saviour, the spirits of both my beloved 
parents have entered into the mansions prepared 
for the faithful ; and that they are, through un- 
merited mercy, united to the just of all generations, 
" who have washed their robes, and made them 
white in the blood of the Lamb ;" to whom be glory 
and honor, for ever and ever ! 

Thus have I cause to commemorate the great 
goodness and mercy extended by our heavenly Fa- 
ther to his unworthy creatures throughout a season 
of inexpressible trial and distress. May his gra- 
cious dealings never be forgotten by one who feels 
undeserving of the least of all his mercies, and who, 
in taking a retrospective view, can gratefully adopt 
the language, " Bless the' Lord, O my soul, and 
forget not all his benefits!" 

I am the only one now remaining of twenty-two 
children, and ever felt much attachment to my pa- 
rents, whose pious and watchful care over their 
large family, in our early years, lives in my heart 
as a sweet memorial, calling for gratitude to Him 
who gives us pious friends. This feeling, I believe. 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 39 

was cherished by all the rest of their children, 
uow, I humbly trust, through unmerited mercy 
and redeeming love, united to them in that happy 
state, where all trials and sorrows are at an end, and 
where all is joy unspeakable and full of glory. 

The foregoing has been written from memory, 
after a lapse of nearly fifty-nine years, the affecting 
events being still vivid in my recollection. 

Dinah Wilson Goff. 

Penzance, Cornwall, 12th mo. 23d, 185G. 

A sum of money was raised by government to 
compensate the sufferers in property, and a portion 
of it was offered to Jacob Goff, with others, in con- 
sideration of the great loss and damage he sus- 
tained ; but, as a member of the society of Friends, 
and not taking up arms in defence of government, 
he felt that he could not accept it. 

It is worthy of commemoration and cause of 
humble thankfulness to the Preserver of men, that 
amidst the carnage and destruction which frequently 
prevailed in some parts of Ireland, during this re- 
bellion, and notwithstanding the jeopardy in which 
some Friends stood every hour, and that they had 
frequently to pass among violent and enraged men, 
in going to, and returning from, their religious 
meetings — which, with very few exceptions, were 
constantly kept up — the lives of Friends were so 



40 DIVINE PROTECTION. 

signally preserved, that no member of the society 
was put to death, except one young man. That an 
exception should be made of one young man, is a 
remarkable occurrence ; and it is interesting to in- 
quire under what circumstances the death of this 
individual took place. Sometimes an apparent ex- 
ception confirms the law; and it will be found that 
this very instance is a case of this kind. The 
young man alluded to, apprehending that his life 
was in danger, and that he could find no means of 
defence, took up the resolution accordingly, to put 
on a military uniform, and to associate with armed 
men. He told his connections that they would all 
be murdered, if they remained in such a defenceless 
state in the country, and taking with him some 
papers of consequence, he fled to a neighboring gar- 
rison town. But it so happened, that the very town 
he cliose as a place of refuge, was attacked and 
taken by the insurgents ; and, from the most credit- 
al)le information that can be collected, it appears 
that when the contest was over, and he was wan- 
tonly firing out of a window upon them, the door 
of the house was forced open by the enraged enemy ; 
and, in terror of his life, he sought to conceal him- 
self in an upper chamber, where he was soon dis- 
covered and put to death.* 

*Sucii ii6 desire to obtain further inforiuation on the 



DIVINE PROTECTION. 41 

deep sufferings and memorable deliverances of Friends, 
more generally at that distressing period, will find them 
related in a small interesting volume, published in 1825, 
and entitled, "The Principles of Peace, Exemplified in y 
the Conduct of the Society of Friends in Ireland, during 
the Kebellion of the year 1798." By Thomas Hancock, 
M. D. Tract No. 46, of the series published by the Tract 
Association of Friends, is, for the most part, an abridg- 
ment of the volume just referred to. It can be had at 
their Depository, No. 304 Arch Street, Philadelphia. 



I 



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